Today’s podcast is all about growing Instagram followers. I’m going to be sharing 8 things that can make someone hit “follow” on Instagram. Essentially, I’m sharing strategies to help you gain more followers by looking at your profile with fresh eyes – as if you were someone who was brand new to you and your account. Reviewing your account can be really helpful in making sure that your views are ideal followers who will turn into actual, engaged followers and eventually customers.

Before we jump into the 8 things that can make someone hit “follow”, I think we need to discuss how someone is finding you. Where are they coming from and how are they finding your Instagram account? The most common way within the app right now is definitely through an Instagram Reel. There’s also other ways – like collaborations, lives, other content on platforms or podcast episodes. Someone could be somewhat familiar with you if that’s the case, or not at all if they’re finding you on a Reel. Within 3 seconds, people decide if they want to follow you. They’re looking at you, you bio, and the content that drew them in. So, just keep that in mind as we’re discussing our 8 reasons to follow someone!

#1: It just makes sense.

What I mean by that is when someone sees the content from you that you’re putting out on Instagram, they just feel that it makes sense to follow you. Your content speaks to them, it’s something they want to consume, and aligns with other content they’ve consumed by you. I talk a lot about this concept when I discuss Instagram Reels. The Reels you create need to connect with your account and content. It’s not random or something totally different than what you normally share. You want people to see it and know they want to follow you.

#2: It’s very clear who you are and who you serve.

This one’s pretty easy. Make sure that you Instagram bio states who you are, what you do, and how you might be different from others in your niche. Make it super easy to understand so that someone can make a fast decision.

#3: Your feed clearly attracts or turns away followers.

I like to think that when it comes to growing followers, it’s important to grow with the right followers. I don’t want to be attracting everybody. When you’re trying to appeal to everyone, you’re really appealing to no one. So you want to be sure that you Instagram bio and feed make it very clear who you are and what you do. Not everyone should want to be a part of that. If people stay that aren’t your ideal followers, they won’t engaged or want to see your content. That’s not helpful for you. We want people who become really loyal followers of our account. Know who your ideal customer is and speak to them.

#4: Give them value.

Following you should give your audience value. Your audience should know that you’re bringing something to them with every post. Value doesn’t just mean education. It can be about being relatable, educating them, inspiring them, or just creating that connection. But something of value has to be posted so that they have a reason to stay around. No matter what kind of business you run, you’re serving people. Your content should be, too.

#5: They can connect with you as a person.

In other words, I mean having a personal brand. Personal brands are a great way to stand out but it’s also a great way to connect with your followers easily.  I really attribute my own growth on Instagram to the fact that I have a personal brand. People want to connect with people – and personal brands are the way to do that. They want to get to know you and who you are behind the business. Remember, you don’t have to share everything online to have a personal brand, either.

#6: Show up consistently.

Showing up consistently on Instagram isn’t just about posting to your feed every day. It’s about being someone who regularly shows up in their Stories or on Reels. Whatever makes sense for your brand. The more consistent you are, the better. People want to know that you’re going to show up for them. Someone new can also see your Stories, so I think that’s a great way to show you’re active regularly. Especially if they don’t follow you. They can quickly see that you’re active and making a point to be online with your audience. We have another post about being consistent online – so check that out here!

#7: You’re being your genuine self.

People can tell if you’re trying to fake your presence online (or trying to just copy what others are doing). They can see you through that and it will hurt you in the long run. Not everything that someone else does is going to work for you on your account, with your audience. I always encourage my students to keep their blinders on a little bit when it comes to social media. Just because someone else is making a random video doesn’t mean that you have to. You have to know your audience and genuinely engage with them the way that works for them. Sitting down and determining your own content strategy for your brand, business, and followers is what will serve you best in the long run.

#8: They’re your ideal follower.

The last reason someone might hit follow is that they’re your ideal follower. This means that you’ve done the work to stand out and attracting certain people. If you’re speaking to them, they’re going to follow you because they know that it’s where they need to be. We want followers who are engaged with our content, so this is the best case scenario. Quality followers matter over quantity. I’d rather have 10K followers who are loyal and engaged than 100K, who don’t engage and hurt my ability to be seen by the people who need me.

There’s 8 ways to grow your Instagram following and make sure people hit “follow”! Remember, the key to Instagram is to speak to your ideal follower and show up consistently, with value.

Other Instagram Resources 

I also offer a free one-hour Instagram Reels class if you want more help with how to grow your reach, followers, and customers with Reels in 2 hours a month! You can sign up for that HERE. And, if you have questions or want some extra support, I’ve got a FREE Reels Growth Facebook Community that you can join. I absolutely love getting to chat with everyone and help them work through their questions about Reels!

Discover what your next step should be to gain your next 1,000 followers!

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Need ideas for Instagram? Grab our free sample Instagram posting schedule here!

If you’re listening and you have ideas about what to talk about next, please send in your requests! I really do want to know what you want to hear about in future episodes. Email me at [email protected] with your questions!! I can’t wait to hear from you! Don’t forget to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, too. We appreciate all of the support and love!